Little penguins on Phillip Island divorce partners after poor breeding seasons, impacting colony reproductive success.

Life isn't always a beach for Phillip Island's beloved penguins, who have been found to divorce their partners and find a new mate if they aren't satisfied with the number of young filling the nest—but it's a risky decision that can lower success in their next breeding attempt.

Penguins were classified as divorced if their partner from the prior breeding season reappeared in the colony but with a new mate. It’s not just moaning about penguins’ moral decline. While divorcing may allow individual penguins to find a ‘higher quality’ mate, if lots of couples split up at the same time it’s not great.